Topical Bible: Righteous: Corn (Grain)

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Introduction

In biblical literature, corn, often referred to as grain, holds significant symbolic and practical importance. It is frequently mentioned in the context of sustenance, provision, and divine blessing. The term "corn" in the Bible typically refers to wheat or barley, the staple grains of the ancient Near East. This entry explores the multifaceted role of corn in Scripture, highlighting its spiritual and theological implications.

Biblical References and Symbolism

1. Provision and Sustenance: Corn is emblematic of God's provision for His people. In Genesis 41, Joseph's interpretation of Pharaoh's dream and subsequent management of Egypt's grain reserves illustrate God's providential care. During the famine, Joseph's brothers come to Egypt seeking grain, underscoring its role as a life-sustaining resource (Genesis 42:1-3).

2. Divine Blessing: The abundance of grain is often depicted as a sign of divine favor. In Deuteronomy 28:8, the Lord promises to bless the barns and all the work of the hands of the Israelites, ensuring their prosperity. This promise is contingent upon their obedience to God's commandments, linking material abundance with spiritual righteousness.

3. Harvest and Judgment: The harvest of grain serves as a metaphor for divine judgment and the gathering of souls. In Matthew 13:24-30, the Parable of the Weeds, Jesus compares the kingdom of heaven to a man who sows good seed in his field. The harvest represents the end of the age when the righteous and the wicked will be separated.

4. Spiritual Nourishment: Just as physical grain sustains the body, spiritual nourishment is essential for the soul. In John 6:35, Jesus declares, "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to Me will never hunger, and whoever believes in Me will never thirst." Here, Jesus positions Himself as the ultimate source of spiritual sustenance, surpassing the physical provision of grain.

5. Offerings and Worship: Grain offerings were a vital part of Israelite worship, symbolizing dedication and thanksgiving to God. Leviticus 2 outlines the procedures for grain offerings, emphasizing the importance of offering the firstfruits and the best of one's produce to the Lord. This act of worship reflects a heart of gratitude and acknowledgment of God's sovereignty.

Theological Implications

The recurring theme of corn in the Bible underscores the relationship between God's provision and human responsibility. While God provides abundantly, His people are called to respond with obedience, gratitude, and stewardship. The imagery of grain also points to the eschatological hope of a future harvest, where the righteous will be gathered into God's eternal kingdom.

Conclusion

Corn, as depicted in the Bible, is more than a mere agricultural product; it is a profound symbol of God's provision, blessing, and the spiritual truths of sustenance and judgment. Through the lens of Scripture, believers are reminded of their dependence on God for both physical and spiritual nourishment, and the call to live righteously in response to His abundant grace.

Nave's Topical Index

Hosea 14:7
They that dwell under his shadow shall return; they shall revive as the corn, and grow as the vine: the scent thereof shall be as the wine of Lebanon.
Nave's Topical Index

Library

1 Cor. xv. 35, 36
... For do not suppose, because grain is sown and all come ... are raised again, he signified
by the corn: but that ... And having made two ranks, of the righteous and of ...
/.../homilies on the epistles of paul to the corinthians/homily xli 1 cor xv.htm

Easter Day
... tillers, and flowers, and ripens its grain"forty-fold ... Before the corn can bring forth
fruit, and show ... proved Himself to be the perfectly righteous Being, by ...
/.../kingsley/all saints day and other sermons/sermon xi easter day.htm

Further Proofs of the Same Proposition, Drawn from the Promises ...
... in what way did he inherit much corn and wine ... to the times of the kingdom, when the
righteous shall bear ... like manner [the Lord declared] that a grain of wheat ...
/.../irenaeus/against heresies/chapter xxxiii further proofs of the.htm

The Desire of the Righteous Granted;
... are, notwithstanding, true desires, if they be the desires of the righteous thus
described ... What is leaven, or a grain of mustard seed, to the bulky lump of a ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/the desire of the righteous.htm

The Soul Winner
... "The fruit of the righteous is a ... O that every Christian were thus year by year the
Lord's seed corn! ... in the world had perished except a single grain, it would ...
//christianbookshelf.org/spurgeon/sermons on proverbs/the soul winner.htm

John Chapter xii. 27-36
... man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ, the righteous; and He ...
being slain: and yet it was the very death of the grain of corn that was ...
/.../augustine/homilies on the gospel of john/tractate lii john chapter xii.htm

The Chaff Driven Away
... And then it is added concerning the righteous man," whatsoever he doeth ... is cut down
and carried into the barn, the corn alone is useful, the grain alone is ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 5 1859/the chaff driven away.htm

Preparation for Advent
... Because He is righteous He will not suffer your unrighteousness. ... sift the house of
Israel among all nations like corn in a sieve, and not a grain should fall ...
/.../kingsley/all saints day and other sermons/sermon ii preparation for advent.htm

Resurgam
... that if I should bring here a certain grain of seed ... particles of the body are absorbed
into the corn that is ... sort you, body to its body, the righteous to the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 6 1860/resurgam.htm

Election no Discouragement to Seeking Souls
... in the winds"all of which may destroy my corn, and I may lose every single grain
of the ... lay than that which is laid, Jesus Christ the righteous." If this ...
/.../spurgeons sermons volume 10 1864/election no discouragement to seeking.htm